Rover created by Indian students likely to lift off for moon in 2019

MUMBAI: If all goes according to plan, the first mission designed by Indian students will lift off for the moon in 2019, said Vinay Bhardwaj and Yagna Sai of Chennai-based Space Kidz India (SKI). The mission, to be launched by SKI, will carry the lightest and smallest lander and rover, Bhardwaj and Sai said at an event organised by School Of Entrepreneurial Exploration at IIT-Bombay on Saturday.
Bhardwaj said a decision is expected soon on choosing a launcher. They told the audience comprising IIT faculty members that SKI is a kids' organisation and the mission was open to students. "Please join and support us in the lunar mission,'' Bhardwaj said.
In 2017, SKI launched the world's first tiniest and lightest satellite, KalamSat, on a Nasa sounding rocket. Speaking about that mission, they said it had inspired students and given them hope. "Its message was that mere academic work and marks was not everything. This mission gave students the much-needed hands-on experience," Sai said. -Srinivas Laxman